Water Tower

The tower, seen here from the top of the zoo's parking deck, is visible from I-696 and Woodward Avenue.

Water Tower and Cool Kids

On a cold day in late winter, the zoo was practically deserted.

Wildlife Interpretive Gallery

The zoo's old aviary has been beautifully restored. It now houses a butterfly house, an aviary, an auditorium, and space for art and special exhibits.

Ford Educational Center

In recent years, the zoo has seen a real Renaissance. Gone are the shows featuring chimpanzees riding bicycles. However, the spate of new and expensive development seems to have led to some financial difficulty.

Arctic Ring of Life

This new exhibit, with its maddeningly circuitous entry path, allows visitors to observe seals and polar bears swimming overhead.

Looking Eastward

From atop the parking deck, I-696 can be seen stretching into the distance over the flat Michigan landscape. Woodward Avenue flows in the trench below the service drive.

Looking Westward

I-696 continues westward, a major artery for travellers north of the city of Detroit.

Looking Southward

The Detroit Zoo is actually located outside the city, a couple of miles north of 8 Mile Road. Looking roughly southward, Woodward Avenue is seen here as it moves toward the heart of the city. At the foot of the avenue, along the Detroit River, the Renaissance Center now serves as headquarters for a beleaguered General Motors.